1. Ethical Considerations

2. Ethics What do we mean by “ethics” or “unethical”?
Motivations to behave unethically:
Personal gain, especially power
Competition
Restoration of justice or fairness
What is “fairness?”

3. Some Ways to Behave Unethically
Selective disclosure &/or misrepresentation to others
Deception
False threats or false promises
Provide false information (lie)
Inflict intentional harm on the other party
Selective disclosure or misrepresentation to constituencies

5. Ethical Decisions Have Complexity
Multiple alternatives
Broad & long-range consequences
Uncertain consequences
Mixture of economic, legal, ethical, social, and personal benefits and costs

6. Some Ethical Systems Eternal law: "capital-T truth"
Ethical Egoism: seek self-interests & promote greatest balance of good over bad for self, with ethical constraints
Utilitarianism: greatest good for the greatest number, or maximize the social benefit function
Universalism (Categorical imperative): would I be willing to make the basis for my action a general law binding everyone, given similar circumstances?
Enlightened self-interest: self-interest rightly understood, with long-term perspective or judging from my deathbed
Ethics of interdependence: interdependence between individuals is fundamental; be willing to compromise to help the other side achieve goals

7. Some Ethical Introspections
Is it right?
Is it fair?
How does it smell?
Who benefits and who gets hurt?
What if details were made public?
What would you tell your child to do?
What if everyone did this?

9. Consider Learning from your mistakes
Look in the mirror & see how you like what you see
Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and see how they see you
However, don’t be naive

10. Case: A Tragic Choice Review silently the questions at end of the case
We discuss Q.1
Each group takes one of questions 2-5 plus the general question: If you were Jim, what would you do and why? - reports back
All join in discussion of each

11. The Insufficiency of Honesty
Honesty: refusal to steal, lie, or deceive in any way
Integrity: trustworthiness & incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust or responsibility

12. Integrity Honesty is necessary, but not sufficient
The most important thing in acting is honesty; once you learn to fake that, you’re in.
- Sam Goldwyn

13. Integrity Honesty Discerning Acting on what you have discerned
Examining beliefs & assumptions
Searching for "truth," avoiding error
Allowing others the same
Acting on what you have discerned
Even at personal cost
Fulfilling moral obligations
Do no harm to others
Not just the minimum

14. Kohlberg Stages of Moral Development
Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment (e.g., I won't hit him because he may hit me back.)
Stage 2: Individual Instrumental Purpose and Exchange (I will help her so she will help me in exchange.)
Stage 3: "Good Boy/girl" (I will go along with you because I want you/people to like me.)
Stage 4: Law and Order (I will follow the rule/order because it is wrong not to.)
Stage 5: Valuing Rights of Others plus Social Rights and Responsibilities (Although I disagree with his views, I support his right to have them.)
Stage 6: Individual Principles of Conscience Grounded in Universal Ethical Principles (There is no external force that can compel me to do an act that I consider morally wrong.)